Railroad-stake.



W. P. NEWKIRK.

RAILROAD STAKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.B,1916.

1,222,575. Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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WILLIAM: P. NEWKIRK, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, AS$IGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO C. 'L. CROOKS, ONE-EIGHTH TO W. D. ISGREG, AND ONE-EIGHTH TO JAIVIES 1B.v CAMPBELL,

ALL OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

RAILROAD-STAKE.

Application filed August 8, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. Nnwnnnr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Stakes, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention is an improvement in railroad grade and elevation stakes, and has for its object to provide a stake of the character specified consisting of a holder for the plate carrying the grade and elevation indications and adapted to be engaged with the base flange of the rail between adjacent ties, in such manner that the holder and plate will be superposed upon the base flange at one side of the rail in convenient position to be consulted.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a. portion of a railroad track showing my improved stake in use;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a rail with the stake in place; and

3 is a front view of the stake.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection ith a rail 1 which is supported by the ties 2, and is secured to the ties in the usual manner. The improved stake comprises a bar at of metal .having at one end a transverse head 5 which has its plane almost parallel with the body of the stake, as shown, being very slightly inclined with respect to the said body. The ends of the head are turned over upon the body as indicated at 6, to form guides for the plate 7, which carries the grade and elevation indications. The stake as a whole has a T-shape, the body of the stake being the stem and the guide or holder for the plate 7 the cross portion.

In use the stake is engaged with the base flange of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2, that end having the cross head being engaged Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1M), Mitt.

Serial No. 113,733.

over the edge of the base flange with the cross head 5 resting upon the upper surface of the base flange and with the body of the stake extending beneath the base flange to the opposite side of the rail and beyond the opposite edge of the said flange. This extended portion is then bent upwardly over upon the base flange, as indicated at 8, thus firmly locking the stake in place on the rail against accidental displacement. At the same time, when desired, the stake may be easily removed.

When so arranged the grade and elevation indications may be easily read. The stake is in such position that it will not be interfered with during resurfacing or weed cutting.

It will be obvious that, instead of providing guides 6 on the cross head for receiving the plate 7 which carries the grade and elevation indications, such indications might be placed directly on the face of the cross head and the plate omitted. In the present usage these indications are placed upon wooden stakes which are driven into the road bed near the track, and it is evident that, so arranged, the indications are not permanent, since whenever the tracks are resurfaced or the weeds are cut, the stakes are liable to be displaced. The present stake is, however, a permanent marker which remains as long as the track is in place. When new ties are inserted, the stake may be placed back in position with the new ties.

I claim Grade and elevation indicating means for railroads, consisting of a strip of metal disposed transversely beneath a rail, and having its end portions rebent to overlie the base flanges of the rail, one of the bent ends being elongated lengthwise of the rail and having its terminal portions folded to form upper guides for an indicia bearing plate.

VVTLLTAM P. NEWKIRK.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patenta,

Washington, D. G. 

